Sheriff

(September 16, 1820 - August 12, 1863) Georgia native, a widower, moved from Tennessee to Dallas County with his son. He married Electa Underwood Bethurum in 1848. Elected Dallas County sheriff in 1850, he served two terms. He later was justice of the peace and county coroner, and an officer of Tann....

First stone house in Decatur. Erected by prison labor about 1859. Main house was residence of sheriff or deputy. Basement was used as jail. Meals were sent down a dumb-waiter located outside the east end of the house. County sold property in 1888 to A. H. Whitehead. Used as city water works until 19....

Georgia native the Reverend Henry Fullingim, his wife Martha, and their 17 children came to northeast Texas in 1849. Henry Fullingim served the area as a circuit-riding Methodist minister. Their son, Archibald, and their son-in-law, John Hale, came to Wise County in 1853 and were among the area's fi....

Organized in 1885 from sections of Crockett, Kinney, and Pecos Counties, Val Verde County was named for a Civil War battle in New Mexico which involved Texas Confederate Forces. The growing railroad town of Del Rio was chosen as the seat of Government and Commissioners set up offices in a commercial....

At an 1891 meeting to discuss the selection of a Castro County seat, words were exchanged between Ira Aten, a retired Texas Ranger speaking on behalf of Castro City, and Andrew McClelland, a spokesman for Dimmitt. The inflammatory remarks led to a gunfight between the two men on December 23, five da....

A landmark of the Texas-Mexico border area. Built 1884-85, during term of county Judge Thomas Lamb, on site chosen by citizens' committee, who donated $800 toward purchase of land from R.E. Moffit. Architects: Wahrenberger and Beckman, San Antonio. Contractor: A local builder, William Hausser (1847-....

Pioneer citizen, soldier, and law officer. Served in D Co., 1st infantry on Texas Frontier, 1848-1852. Among first troops to be stationed at Fort Duncan. Stayed in Eagle Pass after discharge in 1852. Worked as saloon keeper, mustang hunter, rancher, and as deputy sheriff. In Civil War, he was a depu....

Built 1887, enlarged 1888. Social center. Had county's only piano. While pioneering in farming and irrigation, Closner also brought law and order to the outlaw-plagued county. After 1884-1890 service as deputy, was elected sheriff in 1890-- the ninth in 7 years. Without using six-gun or killing a ma....

Born in Danville, Ky.; served in War of 1812 and as sheriff, state representative, state senator in Missouri. Came to Texas as DeWitt Colony's surveyor-general; laid out town of Gonzales, July 1825. In 1827 moved to Jackson County, which he represented in 1832, 1833 conventions, serving in 1833 on c....